Charles Brown

CHARLES E. 'CHUCK' BROWN, 60 ROCKFORD - Charles E. "Chuck" Brown, 60, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011, after a courageous fight due to complications from a brain aneurysm which occurred Dec. 5, 2010. Chuck was born April 8, 1951, in Racine, Wis., the son of Manny S. Brown and Jeanne (Levin) Brown, both of whom predeceased him. He was raised in Racine and attended Racine Horlick High School where he was elected president of the student council during his senior year. He attended Boston University and graduated with a BA in communication arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He later obtained his masters and doctoral degrees in educational administration from UW-Madison. He was a speech and journalism teacher and public relations specialist at D.C. Everest High School in Schofield, Wis., from 1971 to 1980 where the student newspaper was named the top school newspaper in the U.S. in 1978. He then became assistant to the executive vice-president of the Wausau Chamber of Commerce from 1981 to 1985, vice-president of a Wausau advertising agency from 1985 to 1987 and director of marketing/public relations at North Central Technical College in Wausau from 1987 to 2001. He moved to Rockford in 2002 as director of marketing for Rock Valley College and was the president of Rockford Business College from 2005 to 2007. He was director of communications and News Media at Rockford College from 2008 until the time of his illness. He won many professional awards throughout his career, too many to mention here. Chuck had an abiding interest in public service in general and local politics in particular. While in Schofield, he was an alderman for the City of Schofield, council president and interim mayor. Almost immediately upon arriving in Rockford, Chuck became actively involved as a member of the Northwest Community Center Board and was on the board from 2002 to 2009. He was its president for five years. In 2009, Chuck was elected to the Rockford Park District Board and was its secretary at the time of his illness. Chuck also had a continuing interest in teaching, serving as an adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon and then at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He was an active member of the Rockford Rotary and the Rockford Country Club. When younger, he participated in water skiing competitions and his love for the water continued unabated in his later years. One of his joys was boating on the Rock River. He was a die-hard Wisconsin Badgers fan, with season tickets to both UW football and men's basketball. He enjoyed traveling to Wisconsin's away games and bowl games. Survived by brother, Richard (Susan Herro); four nephews and nieces; and three step-daughters. Predeceased also by the love of his life, his wife, Becky, who passed away in August 2010. Chuck was an engaging fellow who effortlessly collected friends wherever he went. He will be sorely missed by everyone whose life he touched. Graveside funeral at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 22, in Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery, 700 Lathrop Ave., Racine, Wis. Memorial service from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Rockford Country Club, 2500 Oxford St., Rockford, with a reflection program at 6 p.m. Memorials will be appreciated to the Chuck and Becky Brown Memorial Bridge Fund, c/o Rockford Park District Foundation, 401 S. Main St., Rockford, IL 61101. Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home, 803 Main St., Racine, WI 53403, 262-634-7888. Please send condolences to meredithfuneralhome.com.